Lip Swelling following Extractions

When necessary for a patient’s oral health, we at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach extract teeth quickly and as non invasively as possible. We’re proud to say that complications are rare, but the post-op instructions we give patients are intended to protect their own comfort, and following them is important. A minor but common problem that develops when people don’t follow instructions is a swollen lip.

Sensation to the lower lip and chin is supplied by the alveolar nerve. We typically deliver numbing medication to it via a syringe prior to extracting teeth from a patient’s lower jaw. Children, in particular, tend to bite down on their numbed lower lips out of curiosity. Unfortunately, it is easy to misjudge how much force the lip is being subjected to when it’s numb, so the bite often causes it to become extremely swollen and to develop a lesion.

The swelling can last for a few weeks. If the lesion is white, it is probably not infected, and the patient can get by with over-the-counter painkillers. In the first two days following an extraction, they should hold cold packs against their jaw for fifteen minutes at a time, and switch to hot packs after the first two days. But if the lesion turns red, smells bad, or is accompanied by a fever, it may be infected and need to be professionally drained and treated with antibiotics. We often do follow-ups after extractions anyway can assess damage to the lip.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.